Patrick McKee (32) of Greenfort Crescent in Clondalkin pleaded guilty at Balbriggan District Court to burglary and trespass with the intention of committing a theft at the Bracken Court Hotel, Bridge Street on May 9th, 2012. Garda Gerard Moroney gave evidence that McKee entered the hotel and attempted to gain access to rooms on the first floor but was unsuccessful. McKee then went to reception and leaned across the counter to access the cash register. He left empty-handed when staff spotted him. Gda Moroney agreed with defence solicitor Ms Fiona Darcy that McKee was co-operative when he was arrested. She told the court that McKee, who left school at an early age and attended the RACE course in The Curragh, had previously worked for trainer Aidan O'Brien. He had started taking hash at the age of 11 and went on to try out different drugs which led him to having a severe drug addiction. 'He has now stablisied and is on methadone,' she said. 'He moved to Northern England to work but didn't like it there and came back here but couldn't get any work. It was then drugs took control of his life and he was in the throws of addiction when the offence occurred,' she said. 'He is asking the court to give him a chance and there was no damage done in the hotel and no items were taken.' Judge Dermot Dempsey handed McKee a five month suspended sentence and bound him to the peace for two years.